South Africa

'You gave us hope ...' - Twitter mourns brave Gontlafetse 'Miss Oxygen' Sehako

12 September 2019 - 15:03 By Cebelihle Bhengu
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Gontlafetse 'Miss Oxygen' Sehako has died.
Gontlafetse 'Miss Oxygen' Sehako has died.
Image: Instagram/Gontlafetse_Miss Oxygen

Rare diseases South Africa has confirmed to TimesLIVE the death of Gontlafetse "Miss Oxygen" Sehako, an internet sensation who touched the lives of thousands of South Africans through her Twitter and Instagram platforms.

According to the organisation, '"Miss Oxygen", as she was widely known among her followers, was suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and hypertension. This rare disease affects the lungs and breathing, which means patients are dependent on an oxygen tank which they carry around with them. 

Her last two messages on Twitter were posted in July while in hospital. “Hospitals are too cold,” and “I'm scared”.

Miss Oxygen died on Wednesday. A Twitter account attributed to her sister Puseletso announced the sad news on Thursday morning.

Heartwarming tributes have since flooded Twitter:

In March, Prince Kaybee reached out to her after she shared via Twitter that her oxygen tank was broken, and would cost her R11,000 to fix, money she said she did not have. “So I've been sulking because my portable machine broke, I'm thinking how will I get 11k to fix it? My lung is struggling since it doesn't get enough oxygen.”

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